The Appellate Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court on October 15 granted the prosecution's appeal and granted permission to conduct a special pre-trial investigation against businessman Konstantin Zhevago. The decision allows the investigation to continue collecting evidence and preparing materials for the trial in the absence of the suspect in Ukraine.
Zhevago is charged with transferring illegal benefits to officials under Part 4 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, an article that provides for a penalty of 5 to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property. According to the investigation, the bribe concerned the former chairman of the Supreme Court and individual judges.
In July 2024, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court had already arrested Zhevago in absentia and seized part of his property, including a helicopter, and had also initiated other criminal proceedings related to the businessman. The investigation also suspects him of involvement in a large-scale pharmaceutical scheme that allegedly involved the organization of the production and sale of Ukrainian drugs in the territory of the Russian Federation.
Since Konstantin Zhevago has been abroad for a long time, it is impossible to conduct a normal pre-trial investigation in his presence; therefore, the prosecutor's office requested a special procedure for an investigation in absentia. The decision of the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice opens up the investigators the opportunity to work with the materials, call witnesses, order expert examinations, and prepare the case for further trial.
The decision of the Appeals Chamber does not mean a verdict - the investigation must complete all necessary procedural actions, after which the case materials will be transferred to the court for consideration on the merits.
